Lather-forming device



NOV. 4, 1930. R, H WAGER 1,780,573

LATHER FORMI NG DEVI CE Original Filed March l0, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 NOV 4, 1930. R. H. WAGER LATHER FORMING DEVICE A2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Original Filed March l0. 1927 Witwe/oo VCA Maniago Patented Nov. 4, 1930l ROBERT H WAGEaor'JERsnY CITY, NEWVJERSEQ f LATHEn-ronmme DEYI .7 j

, Appnationmed March 1o,v 1927, serial No. 174,320. Reeweafne'qember 12,1929. p

rlhis invention relates to new and" useful limprovements in lather forming devices for shaving purposes, of the same general type f disclosed in my U; Patents 1,551,146;"1,j

` I 554,147 and 1,554,148y ofv September 15, 1925.

'In thefpatented structures, agliquidrv container is'disclosed having a soap cake supporting platform and means thereunder for discharging` air or'other de'siredgas into the bubbles. A bubble-condensing unit, for converting the bubbles to a thick creamy lather, .is clamped against the upper end of the container wall by a cap which is provided with a lather discharge spout.

It is the aim of the present invention to generally improve and simplify the patented constructions, producing a better device at less cost', and in carrying out this endyfurther objects are :`-to provide improved means for supporting` the soap cake with'its lower side exposed to the agitated liquid ,to provide improved means insuring that the liquidshall be agitated underthe cake as well as around the same; to'make novel provision ypreventing anyof the soapy liquid from reaching a check valve within the gas inlet passagev of the container and causing this valve to lodge against its seat; to produce'an improved bub- 3 ble-converting unit all of whose bubble-condensing screens are encasedy and hence protected; to provide a construction in-which the same screening eifect as that previously produced byrelatively large screens, isattained with the use of less screening material; to provide a bubble-'converting unit in which previously unoccupied space' isutilized to con-V ,tain additional screens; to provide a bubbleconverting unit which is permanentlysealed at the factory and hence cannot be taken apart and tampered with by the purchaser; and to provide anew and improved construction and relation Vof parts for retaining the bub- 45 ble-converting unit in 'place and permittingr the use of a single gasket to establish afluid- `tight seal between the container and its cap. With the foregoing and minor objects in view, the invention resides in the novel subm ject matter hereinafter described and claimed,

liquid, to agitate the latter and formv 4soap' the description jbeing supplemented by the accompanying drawings.

` Fig. 1 isa side elevation; l n

Fig. 2'is Lan enlarged vertical sectional view. Fig 3 is a sideelevation showing the lather discharge cap disconnected from the container. and" illustrating the filling kplug removed from4 the latter.`

`Figs. 1, 5, 6, 7 and 8 are horizontal sectional views on the correspondingly numbered lines of Fig. 2. y f

Fig'. 9 is a vertical sectional'view* through portionsv of the bubble-converting means in disassembled relation. i

lFig. 10 is a sectional view similar to a`portion of 2 but illustrating a different form ofconstruction. l f y 11v isa detail sectionalfview through aportion ofthe cap, showing a diiferent construction from that illustratedfin-' the'other views.l 'e i y Fig. 12jis1adetail vertical sectional'view` showing ajdifferent manner of supportingthe bubbleconverting unit. 'I L Figz`13 isa: sectional perspectiveA View, il lustrating afmodiied ringc onstr'u'ctionv which may be used if desired forjsecuring certain screens inplace.- 'i

In .the drawings above briefly described, preferred features lof construction hav'ejbeen illustrated and while such features will'be hereinafter specifically described, it is to be understoodthat within the scope'vof-'the inf vention as c ,laimed,'nu1nerous variations may bemade.

12'denot'es a'liquid-container having a filling opening v13 vwhich is so located las to kprevent filling ofthecontainerbeyonda predetermined levelpth-,is'le'vel being 'indicated at 14 in 2.' A suitable plug 15 havingfa gasket 16, is provided for the opening 18, and said plug is preferably formedwith integral lugs (not shown) engageable with bayonet slots or theequivalent 17,- permitting fthe plug to be quickly and easilyv securedin place .or removed,as occasion' may demand;

f The lower portion of the container 12 is formed with a gasinlet passage 18 which is preferably connected with a hand bulb 19,

the innerl end ofsaid passage being upwardly f J directed as indicated at 20. This upwardly turned end of the gas inlet passage 18 communicates with the lower end of a vertical tube 21 (most views) or 21a (in the modification of Fig. The container bottom is provided with a conical formation at its upper side and this formation mayeither be integral with said bottom as denoted at 22 in Fig. 2, or it may be sepa-rate from the bottom, as indicated at 22a in Fig. 10. When the former construction is employed, the tube 21 may be threaded into the upper end of the formation 22, as indicated at 23, but when the construction of Fig. 10 is employed, the lower end of the tube 21a is threaded at 23a into the container bottom under the conical formation 22a, and the latter is formed with an opening 24receivingsaid tube. In eitherv instance,fthe tube will receive gas from the upturned end 2O of the passage 18, and it will be observed from Fig. 2-that this tube is provided with gas discharge openings 25 above the liquid level 14,., An upwardly opening check valve 26y is disposed within this tube and acts in conjunction with the usual inlet valve of the bulb 19, and it will be observed that none of the soapy liquid from the container 12 canreach the valve 26, due to the fact that the openings 25 are disposed above the liquid level 14. Thus,there -is no danger of any soap collecting uponrthe valve and its seat and causing the former to lodge against the latter.

A vertical sleeve 27, surrounds the tube 21, a spaced relation therewith, and is provided at its lower end with an outstanding flange 28 of conical formation. This flange is spaced above theconical formation 22 or 22a and its peripheral edge terminates in spaced relation with the container wall to permit the discharge of gas into the liquid, said gas being received bythe sleeve 27 from the openings 25 and conducted downwardly by this sleeve into the space 30 between the two conical formations` 28-22 or 28-221, as the case maybe.

'One 1 of the conical formations (28 or 22--22a) is provided with means for whirling thegas'passing through the space 30 and directing such gas circumferentially of the container wall as it discharges, so as to produce effectivewhirling and agitation of the liquid in the container ,12. In the 'present showing', the meansL just referred to, are in the form of curvedtribs 31 upon the upper surface of the conical formation 22-22, said ribs being spacedapart rand hence providing curved passages'whose inner and outer ends are open, n The flange 28, which is rigidly attachedto the lower end ofthe sleeve 27 in any preferred manner, rests solidly upon the ribs 31 and is held in this position by the enlarged head 33y of a screw 34, the latter being threaded intoA the upper end of the tube 31: Y rI hehea'd `33 is preferablyshouldered at 35 to fit partly within the upper end of the sleeve 27 to hold the latter centered with regard to the tube 21.

36 denotes an annular soap caire whose central opening 37 receives the sleeve 27, said sleeve and associated parts thus constituting a post-forholding the soap cake with its periphery spaced from the side wall of the containerr 12. Due to the formation of the flange 28, upon which the soap cake 35 rests, only the innerY lower corner 38 of the soap cake will engage said flange, and hence, an annular space 39 is left between the flange and the soap cake, in which the agitated water may act against the lower side of said cake.

Preferably, the soap cake 36 is of such thickness that its upper portion is disposed above the liquid level 14 and its lower portion below said liquid level, until the ,cake has washed away to quite an extent, but as the lower side'of said cake is worn away Vby contact with the agitated liquid, the Ycake gradually lowers byV gravity, so that it is at all times supported by the flangeV 28.

The features of constructions so far de scribed, are instrumental in producing Ysoap bubbles,and for the purpose of converting these bubbles into a thick creamy lather, suitableforshaving, Iprovide abubble-converting unit 41, the lower portion of said unit fitting into ther open upper end of the container12. This unit is preferably supported directly upon thev soap-calre-positioning-post and is provided with a bos.c 40 resting on the screw head thereof. ,-H'ence, the soap-cake-positioning-post serves to effectively support the unit 41, without any necessity of providing the latter with an outstanding rib or the like to engage the upper edge of the container wall. Moreover, Contact of unit 41 with the screw head 33, prevents' the screw 34, holding sections' of the post together, from being accidentally loosened or removed. If desired, the unit 41 may be supported by ribs, such as 40a' of Fig. 12, instead of being supported by the soap-calre-positioning-post, saidribs being formed on the container wall.

The unit 41 is analogous to 'the bubbleconverting unit shown in Fig. 2 of U. S. Fatent 1,554,148, but certain distinct improvements have been made. This unit embodies a central plate 42 provided on cach of its upper and lower sides, with a continuous annular flange 43, the peripheral surfaces of said flanges and plate being preferably flush so to produce a strictly cylindrical formation for the unit 41. Plate 42 formed with a central 'opening` 44, and between this' opening the flanges 43, each of theupper and lower sides of said plate are formed with a pair of continuous channels 45, thel channels atfeacli side of the plate bei-ng in communication at spaced points, by means of appropriate ports 46.

Fitting within the flanges 43 and positioned of zig-,zag form and needs no openings such `with a plurality of inlet openings 51, and the corresponding channel ofthe upper plate 47 is provided with outlet openings 52. iinnular screens V53 are provided for these openings, said screens being disposed within the channels with which said openings communicate, and being held in proper position across said openings by rings 54 2 and 6) Vor 54a (Fig.-13) or rings rof other desired form, said rings having frictional engagement with the opposed side walls of the channels. The rings 54 are fiat and are formed with appro priate openings 55 which are preferably elongated as shown in Fig. 6, andif desired, these rings may be of a thickness corresponding to the depth of the channels 49. The ring 54a is as 55. In Fig. 2ofvPatent 1,544,148, openings kcorresponding to the openings 51 and are disclosed, `provided with no screens, butI in rthe manufacture ofthe device, screens were placed over he entire top and bottom of the rbubbleconvertiing unit, to screen these open,-

vings. r)The screens were secured at their centers and peripheries and While they attained good results, this 'construction required a `great deal more of the screening material,

than the present construction, inwhich the small'annular screens 53 are disposed within certain of the channels 49. j

j In the, patent last referred to 2)a central opening corresponding totheopening 44, `was left unoccupied, butv in the present device, I utilize this opening to retain alternate `screens 56 and spacers 57.

' Between the centralplate 42 and the plates 474-48, screens 58 are provided,extcnding across the numerous channels ofthe plates,

` as in Patent 1,544,148. The relation of parts is such that the portions of these screens, at

the'endmost of the spacers 57 are backed up by portions of the plates 47 and 48, relieving said screens of the strain ofholdin g the spacers 57 and screens 56, against shifting.

I yprefer to permanently secure the plates 47,-k-48 within the flanges43, so that the unit 41cannot be disassembled and tampered with bythe purchaser. To accomplish this, I prel.

` fer to bevel the outer corners of these plates,

as indicated at 59k and to provide fins 6 0 integral with the flangeks-48andy extending continuously around lthe inner corners of the latter. [Prior to assembly, these fins stand as seenin IFig. 9, but after the entire unit 41 `has beeny assembled, the iins .60 are .turned inwardiyas shown-y in Fig. 2,'said fins then contacting with thebevels 59 and being ush with the edges of the flanges 43 and with the outer surfaces ofthe plates 47-48 The upper portion of the bubble-converting vunit 41 projects abovefthe side wall of the container 12, and fitting kover this upwardly projectingportion .of said unit Yand the upper portion of the container 12, is a cap 61 having a lather discharge'spout The side wall or `depending skirt portion of this cap may have itsk upper and lower portions formed of separate sections 63 and V64, engaged as shown in Fig; 2, 'or the upper land lowerportions may be integrallyv connected with each other as in F ig. 11, in which view the portions inquestion are denoted at 63,a and 64a. In either instance, the lower portion of the cap wall is `outwardly offset from thekupper portion, providing a downwardly facing shoulder 65 (Fig. 2) or`65a (Fig. 11). This shoulder is `spaced directly above the upper edge of the container sidewall, and a gasket 66 is interposed between said shoulder and edge to establish a fluid-tightconnection between the cap 61 and the container 12, when the formeris downwardlydrawn by means .yet to be described. .Whenthis cap moves Y downwardly to the 1 maximum, an internal,

downwardly facing shoulder 67l with which it is provided, `abuts the upper side of the unit 41 and thus holds thelatter tightly down against the soap-cake-positioning-post. Dur-` the co-acting portions of the slots 69 are inclined, sok that upon rotation of either the lower section 64 of the cap wall or-the entire cap, accordingto the construction followed, thev cap and container willbe-tightly connected and the former will 'be drawn downwardly upon the latter. This lugand slot connection also permits quick and easy demounting of the cap 61 from the container 12 when the parts within saidcontainer are to be taken out for vone reasonor another.

The improved device operates in the same manneras the patentedA structures, with certain exceptions., Gperation` of the bulb 19 injeets gas (preferably air.) into the container to agitate the liquid therein, producing soap bubbles. In the present construction, the gasis discharged at the Lperiphery of the flange 28 andit is so directed that it tends to `whirl the liquid around ther soap sho cake 36, and such liquid is effectively agitated in the space 39 to receive the necessary quantity of soap from the lower surface of the soap cake. rPhe soap bubbles generated by this agitation of the liquid in the presence of the soap cake, accumulatf` in the upper portion of said container, above the liquid level, and are forced by the accumulating` Vgas pressure through the bubble-converting unit all, said bubbles traveling repeatedly through the screening means, so that by the time they leave the4 outlet openings 52 of said unit, they have reached a thick creamy consistency suitable for shaving p urp es. This shaving cream is discharged through the outlet 62 and is preferably applied to the face with the hand, thus dispensing with the use of the usual shaving brush. I

On account of the advantages existing for the details of construction herein disclosed, they may well be followed, but as above stated, numerous variations may be made within the scope of the invention as claimed.

l. In a lather forming device, a container in which soap bubbles are formed and from which they are discharged by gas under pressure, said container having an open upper end, a bubble-converting unit having its lower portion received within the open upper end of the container, means within said container for supporting said unit, a lather-discharge cap receiving the upper portions of said unit and said container wall and forme-d with an internal downwardly facing shoulder spaced above the upper edge of said wall, a gasket between said shoulder and edge, and co-acting means on the cap and container wall for effecting downwardmovement of the cap to compress the gasket, establishing a fluidtight connection between cap and container.

2. A structure as specified in claim l; said cap having a portion which abuts said unit and holds it tightly down against its supporting means, upon maximum compression of the gasket.

3. In a lather forming device, a container for a saponaceous liquid, said container having an open upper end, means for injecting a gas under pressure into the liquid containing portion of said container to agitate the saponaceous liquid and form soap bubbles, a bubble-converting unit fitting into the open upper end of said container and disposed above the normal liquid level, a lather-discharge cap over said unit and connected with the container, and a post in the container supporting the aforesaid unit, a portion of said post being disposed in the. liquid containing portion of the container to hold a soap cake therein.

4. A structure as specified in claim 3; said post having a removable portion at its upper end held against accidental removal by coni tact with said bubble-converting unit.

5. A structure as specified in claim 3; said post being of sectional formation and having one of its sections secured in place by al screw at the upper end of the post, said screw being held against accidental removal by contact with said bubble-condensing unit.

6. In a vbubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a container for a saponaceous liquid, a gas inlet tube rising rigidly into said container and having a gas outlet above the normal liquid level, a soap cake positioning sleeve surrounding and spaced Afrom said tube, providing a chamber to receive the gas from said gas outlet, said sleeve having a closed upper end, provision being made to permit discharge of gas into the liquid from the lower end of said sleeve, and soap cake supporting means carried by said sleeve.

7. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a container for asaponaceous liquid, a gas inlet tube rising rigidly into said container and having a gas outlet above the normal Vliquid level, and a soap cake positioning sleeve surrounding and spaced from said tube, providing a chamber to receive the gas from said gas outlet, said sleeve having a closed upper end and an open lower end, the latter being provided with an outstanding annular soap cake supporting ange which is spaced above the container bottom and is spaced also from the container wall, permitting discharge of gas into the liquid.

V8. A structure as specified in claim 7 said fla-nge being of substantially conical formation to contact at its smaller upper end only With the soap cake.

9. A structure as specified in claim 7 said yiiange'being of substantially conical formation andbeing adapted to support an annular soap cake, and a complementary conical formation at the upper side of the container bottom spaced a slight distance below the flange to provide for the discharge of the gas, oneof said conical formations having pitched ribs for whirling the gas to effect through agitation of the liquid.

l0. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a liquid container having a substantially conical formation at the upper side of its bottom, a rigid gas inlet tube disposed at the upper end of said substantially conical formation and having a gas outlet above` the liquid level of the container, the upper side of said substantially conical formation having pitched ribs extending to its periphery'from the tube, a gas conducting sleeve surrounding and spaced from said tube, the lower end of said sleeve having a substantially conical soap-cake supporting flange resting on said ribs and terminating in spaced relation with the container wall to permit discharge of gas from the spaces between said ribs, and a screw threaded into the upper end of the tube, said screw being l provided with a head which closes the upper end of the sleeve and holds the latter and l its flange against upward movement.

. 11. In a bubble-producing 4means for a lather `forming device, a liquid container having a substantially conical soap cake support ior contact at its upper smaller end ,only with the soap cake, means for holding the soap cake against tilting on the ysupport and for maintaining spaced relation between the cake and the container wall, and means whereby the liquidl may be agitated around the latter in spaced'relation with the container wall, and means whereby the liquid may be agitated around and under the soap cake, saidcontainer having an outlet above its normal liquid level to discharge generated bubbles and being otherwise closed againstdischarge of liquidwhen in normal position. i 13. In a bubble-producing -nieans for a lather forming device, a liquid container having a substantially conical soap cake support for contact at its upper smaller end only with the soap cake, means for holding the soap cake against tilting on the support and for maintaining'spaced relation between the cake and the container wall, andmeans for discharging gas at the peripheral vedge of said support toward the container wall.

14. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a liquid container having a substantially conical soap cake support for contact at its upper smaller end only with the soap cake, means for holding the y soap `cake against tilting on the support and for maintaining spaced relation between the cake and the container wall, and means for discharging gas at the peripheral edge of the 'support and directing it circumferenti ally of the container wall to whiil the liquid about and under the soap cake.

15. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a liquid container provided'with a bubble outlet above its normal liquid level and otherwise closed against es-` cape of liquid, a soap cake positioning post disposed within said container and adapted for ypassage centrally through an annular soap cake, said post having gas-conducting means discharging below the liquid level of the periphery of the post and'spaoed above the container -bottom,and-means for injecting a gas into said gas-conducting means.

` 1.6., In a bubblefconvert-ing.means for' a' lather forming device, a member havinga bubble-conducting channel and bubble-con ducting openings communicating therewith, p

a bubble-'condensing screen in the channel eX- tendingl across said opening, and a ring se# cured in saidchannel, thescreen beingltightly Vheld between channel(l v 17. A bubble-convertingunit.for a lather forming device, comprising a central plate said ring` and a wall ofthe hai/'ing an opening from one side to the other and provided with a continuous flange at each Vof said sides, the latter having continuous channels between the opening and flanges, two additional plates fitting within said langesf'and having channels opposed to those of the central plate; one of said additional plates having an inlet opening into one of its channels, the other of said additional plates being formed with an outlet opening from oneof its channels, and the three plates hav Y ing ports from one channel to another; bubble-condensing screensclamped between the central plate and the additional plates, s'paced bubble-condensing screens in the irst named opening, and bubble-condensing screens across said inlet and outlet openings mounted in the channels with which these openings communicate.` e

`v18. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a liquid container pro-V vided with a bubble outlet above its normal liquid level and otherwise closed against escape of liquid, a post disposed centrally within saidliquid container and adapted to be surrounded by bubble-forming soap, said post having gas-conducting means discharging below the liquid level of the container, and means for injecting a gas into said gas-con ducting means.

19.. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, a liquid container provided with a bubble outlet above its normal liquidlevel and otherwise closed against escape of liquid, a tube rising rigidly into said container and having a gas outlet above the normal liquid level, a sleeve removably surrounding said tube and adapted to be surrounded by bubble-forming soap, said sleeve being spaced from the tube to conduct the gas from said tube downwardly, the lower endjol Vsaid sleeve being flared and open and adaptadapted for reception Within a soap-carrying sleeve, and means for discharging gas intok said tube, the upper portion of the container being removable to allow insertion and removal of the soap-carrying sleeve.

21. In a bubble-producing means for a lather forming device, an elongated soapcarrying sleeve adapted to receive a gas-dis charging tube, said sleeve vhaving a closed upper end and having a flared open lower end.

In testimony whereof A[ have hereunto affixed my signature.

ROBERT H. VAGER. 

